STARKVILLE -- Normally high school coaches are afraid of letting their teams have fun at the expense of opponents.
Starkville Academy baseball coach Neal Henry isn't one of those people.
In fact, Henry encouraged the brooms to come out in his dugout late Thursday evening in a 6-5 and 11-8 sweep of East Rankin Academy at Volunteer Field.

Just imagine what Mercedes Mattix will be able to accomplish when she has more time to practice.
With only two days of practice and coming off a long basketball season, the New Hope High School junior kicked off her outdoor track and field season in style Saturday, winning the 100, 200, and 400 meters at the Mississippi State University High School Invitational at Maddox Track.

Shawn Gregory has tried to give back wherever he has worked as a teacher and a coach.
Whether it has been at the prep, college, or professional level, the New Hope High School graduate has gained invaluable insight about the best ways to relate to players and to teach them the lessons they need to succeed.

Columbus High School pitcher Hunter Mullis' confidence rarely wavers.
His catcher, Gavonta Webb, has tried to emulate the pitcher's cool demeanor as he has worked through an early season hitting slump.

STARKVILLE -- A year ago, Nora Kathryn Carroll admits she wasn't quite sure how sports fit into her future.
While Carroll played key roles for the Starkville Academy girls soccer and girls basketball teams, she wanted to work on her skills, particularly on the basketball court, to make a bigger impact.
Consider that goal accomplished and a bigger step left to take.

CLINTON -- The Starkville Academy girls basketball team defeated Presbyterian Christian 54-33 on Saturday in the title game of the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Overall State tournament at Mississippi College's A.E. Wood Coliseum.
Maggie Proffitt scored a game-high 17 points and Sallie Kate Richardson added 12 to help the Lady Volunteers cap a 43-0 season, win their 52nd game in a row, and complete a three-peat of the MAIS Class AAA, Division II, Class AAA, and overall state championships.
For more on this game, see Sunday's print edition of The Dispatch.

CLINTON -- Sallie Kate Richardson has eight points and Nora Kathryn Carroll has seven to help the Starkville Academy girls basketball team lead Presbyterian Christian 29-14 at halftime of the title game of the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Overall State tournament at Mississippi College's A.E. Wood Coliseum.
The Lady Volunteers (42-0) used a 22-1 run from the end of the first quarter into the second quarter to break the game open.